Bottle handling apparatus



Dec. 18, 1962 J. G. DRENNAN 3,068,990

BOTTLE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 15, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HTTOFNE'YS Dec. 1-8, 1962 Filed ril 15, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i/30 zt-r l ,W/ /A 34 53 5 i 1 \k F'TI 11 A w 1 X3 221 77% INVENTOR. (la/1E: fD/FE/VAMN BY 5 M4 zi izaxmz Unite htates 3,68,99t} BOTTLE HANDLING APPARATUS James G. Brennan, San Mateo, Calif assignor to @WEHS- Iilinois Glass Qompany, a corporation of @hio Fiied Apr. 15, 1959, Ser. No. 806,657 2 Claims. 3!. 198-33) My invention relates to bottle handling apparatus and more particularly is a simple device for accurately prepositioning bottles upon conveying means to insure, for example, proper positioning of bottles for labeling.

In the labeling of a bottle involving conventional spotgluing of a selected surface area and subsequent rolling of the bottle over a label bed, such bottle normally occupies a recumbent position upon conveying means. In advance of the labeler, such bottle Will occupy an upright position and in a zone immediately adjacent the entrance to the labeler the bottle travels through a so-called twister which repositions the bottle so that it lies upon its side preparatory to passing through the labeler. Both the labeler and twister are of well-known construction and widely used by beverage bottlers. The twister consists of a plurality of guide rods suitably shaped to move the bottle either to a recumbent position for entry into the labeler or to an upright position as it leaves the labeler.

An object of my invention is the provision of simple, effective means at the exit end of the twister for steadying or stabilizing the bottle as it completes its change in position.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a novel starwheel arrangement through the use of which one is assured that the axis of the bottle entering the labeler will be precisely at a right angle to the length of the conveyor. Thus crooked labels will be avoided.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a starwheel device at the discharge end of the labeler just beyond a twister whereby to insure controlled handling of the bottles so that the latter are steadied and remain so as they move onto the conveyor.

Other objects will be in part apparent and part pointed out hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view showing my invention associated with a conventional labeler.

FIG. 2 is a detail fragmentary perspective view of my invention positioned adjacent the discharge end of a twister at the exit end of a labeler.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the starwheel device comprising my invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

-In FIG. 1, I have illustrated schematically conven-' tional mechanism with which my invention may well be used. An elongated support It or table lies beneath a hold-down and feed belt 11. This belt or an equivalent device advances the bottles B along the table so that they successively move over a hot glue container 13, label bed 14 and paste belt 15. This is a conventional arrangement Widely used in the industry.

At the entrance end, the right-hand side of FIG. 1, a conventional twister 16 lies between the labeler L and a standard type of conveyor 17 upon which the bottles occupy normal upright positions. The twister 18 turns the bottles so that they occupy recumbent positions as they move onto the table 10. Because it is essential that such bottles be straight, viz., their axes at a right angle to the length of the table 10 in order to insure proper label application, I position a freely rotatable starwheel 19 at the juncture of the twister and table. This starwheel 19 is mounted for rotation upon a horizontal axis and comprises a pair of axially spaced apart EQQ rotors 2 9, each provided with an annular series of peripheral recesses 21 or pockets. These rotors are so relatively positioned and the peripheral recesses so formed that each bottle B entering the starwheel 19 is engaged near both of its ends. Since the axis of the starwheel is precisely at a right angle to the length of the table 19, the bottles will be accurately positioned for labeling. As an added precaution, a second starwheel 22 may be placed substantially midway the length or" the labeler. This starwheel is of the same general structure as that at the entrance to the labeler. A third stabilizing starwheel 23 is positioned just beyond a twister 24 at the exit end of the labeler. Again the starwheel is similar in structure to those already mentioned. This last named twister 24 is best shown in FIG. 2, this being at the exit end of the labeler.

In FIG. 2, the twister comprises inclined guide rods 25 bent to provide a bottle guide. As these rods become progressively lower they are bent to turn the bottles from the recumbent position occupied during labeling to a slightly tilted position. While so tilted, they enter the pockets of the starwheel and are positively held therein by continuously moving belts 26 (FIG. 2). These belts are located adjacent to the rotors of the starwheel, as shown.

Each starwheel (FIGS. 3 and 4) comprises upper and lower rotors 29, provided with aligned recesses 21 or pockets. A hollow hub 27 interconnects these rotors and is freely rotatable upon the shaft 28, the latter being secured in a supporting frame 29 or holder. A carrier bracket 39 (FIG. 4) supports said frame, being connected thereto by screws 31 which pass through slots 32 and permit axial adjustment of the starwheel as may be dictated by variations in the bottle height. This bracket 3% has a slotted base .33 which together with screws 34 provide means for adjusting the starwheel horizontally relative to the path of travel of the bottles.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a continuously advancing horizontal conveyor having a bottle receiving end, an inclined twister-type bottle guide for receiving bottles in a recumbent position and having a discharge end overlying said receiving end of the conveyor and shaped to substantially upright discharged bottles on the latter, a pair of superposed, coaxial, peripherally-pocketed starwheels positioned above said receving end for free rotation about a vertical axis, said starwheels being so relatively spaced that they contact the bottles both above and below the center of gravity prior to assuming a posi- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 331,909 Price Dec. 8, 1885 1,277,782 Tucker Sept. 3, 1918 1,570,622 Danberg Ian. 26, 1926 2,097,368 Frank Oct. 26, 1937 2,642,212 Currivan June 16, 1953 2,725,138

Fechheimer Nov. 29, 1955 

